Unseating structure for rotary plug valves



L. W. MUELLER ETAL UNSEATING STRUCTURE FOR ROTARY PLUG VALVES June 2 3, 1953 2 -sinensis-Sheet l Filed Oct. 51, 1946 2 m. F.. .a H w n m 1 1 H 6 w M f f Q n 1 w Inventors` Fnaoamcm June 23, 1953 w. MUl-:LLER ErAL UNSEATTNG STRUCTURE RoR ROTARY PLUG VALVES Filed oct. 31, 1946` 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fls J9 Inventors: LuclEN W. MUELLER Attorneys Patented June 23, 19573 'UNS'EATING STRUCTURE FOR ROTARY PLUG VALVES Lucien W. Mueller and kFrederick Tratzik, 122e- I catur, Ill., assignors to Mueller Co., Decatur,- Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application october 31, 194e, serial No. 706,904'

11 Claims. l

The present invention relates to valves'.

An object of the invention is to provide a-rotary valve including means to enable the plug' to be tilted or canted radially with respect to its seat so that it can readily be operated. Y

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following specication and the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure l is an axial section through a valve. i

Figure 2 is a transverse section on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a transverse section on the line 33 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a detailed axial section with the y plug in intermediate position.

Figure 5 is an axial section ofv a modied valve showing the plug in opened position, and

Figure 6 is an axial section of the valve showing the lower portion of the Figure 5 structure', but with the plug in closed position.

Referring to Figures 1 to 4, the numeral It designates the valve body element or casing which is provided with a seat bore II and a flow passageway I2 including an inlet port I2al and an outlet port I2b. One end of the seat bore is closed, for example, by the imperforate wall indicated at I3. The'opposite end of the seat bore is adapted to be closed by -a plate I4 secured to the body element I0 by bolts I5', so that the plate element is removable. Plate I 4 includes a central aperture Illa surrounded bya'boss Idb'.

The valve element or plug is designated by the numeral Ie and includes a flow yport' IEa. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the valve element is covered with a resilient material Il. However, the use of a resilient covering on the plug may be eliminated without departing from the present invention.

One end of the valve element I6 has a stem I8 projecting therefrom and stern I8 extends into an operating element or `sleeve I9 of cup-like form. In more detail, the extreme outer end of stem I8 is square in cross section to provide a plurality of flat faces which loosely engage opposed flat faces 2I on the interior of the oppo.

site portion of the operating sleeve I 9'. Inwardly* of the above-mentioned flat faces,A the stem IS' is circular in cross section, as'indicated `at 22 in Figure 3. The inner portion of the plug-stem is rounded to have a journal t with an opposed circular surface of sleeve I9. At its innerend, sleeve I9 is provided with a radial flange 24 andv at least the outer surface of this ange ground and adaptedv to bear upon an opposed ground sur- 2 face of plate I4 so that frictionv will be reduced over these areas.

In-order to exert axial pressure on plug IB, a hardened steel ballr 25 is' pressed against the outer wall of the sleeve I9 by a coil spring, as shown in Figure 1. In more detail, the coil spring is mounted in a pocket in the extreme outer end of stem I8, so that plug I6 will be held in bearing contact with the opposite end of body element I9, but lwith sulcient freedom' of movement to permit a slight tilting action, as will be hereinafter described.

In order to provide a seal between the element I9 and the wall of bore I 4a of plate It, elementv I9 may be provided with a sealing element of the G-ring vtype designated by theV numeral 26, and which is mounted in a circumferential groove in element I9. O-ring 26 is normally round in radial section but will' be spread to be elliptical in radial section by pressure moving along sleeve I9. Thus, even when sleeve I9 is canted as hereinafter described, ring 2S will irmly engage the wall of aperture Ilia and the inner 'surface of the groove in which the ring is mounted.

It is found that when rotary valves are used to control high pressure flow, the action of the fluid urges the `plug element against the mouth of the outlet port I 2b, thereby increasing the difficulty' of operating the plug. If the plug is of a rubber covered type, it may be moved toward the outlet port to such a degree that the Arubber covering of the plug will project into the outlet port and'be scored or otherwise marred when the plug is moved to open position.' For ex-f ample, if the plug'is in the closedposition illustrated inzFigure l, the pressure of line fluid acting through inlet passage' I2a may force the plug to the right with respect to Figure l to such an .extent as to render it difficult to rotate the plug to open position because therubber covering I'I will project-slightly into the mouth of the outlet passage I-Zb'. Y

In order to enable the plug'to be operated more readily, theoutwardl'y' projecting iiange or boss Iab oi plate M is provided with a radial aperture Si) in whicha hardenedrsteel ball 3| is mounted, the ball being held in proper position bymeans of a set screw S2 locked in adjusted position by a smaller set screw, as shown in Figure l. Ball 3| is adapted to engage a groove 33 which extends circumferentially of the outer surface of sleeve I9. A pocket 34 of slightly greater radial depth than groove 33A is provided at one end of the grooverand a similar pocket 35 is provided at the opposite end of the groove. The pockets are preferably spaced by 90, i. e., the arc of rotation of the plug I6 between open and closed position.

The end of the plug IB adjacent the closed end I3 of the casing will have a metal bearing plate 38 secured thereto and a similar plate 39 will be secured in the opposed inner surface of the casing. A hardened steel ball 40 will be positioned between the two plates, thereby providing a bearing surface which will permit the plug to be rotated even while canted. The spring-pressed ball 25 will urge the plug into contact with ball 40.

In the use of the valve of Figures 1 to 4, with the plug in the closed position of Figure 1, the pressure acting through the inlet port I2a may tilt the valve on ball 40 so that the plug will lean very slightly to the right, as viewed in Figure l. As has been explained above, this canted position of the plug may cause its rubber covering to project into the outlet port |25. Even if the plug is not covered with a resilient element, it will be more difficult to operate by reason of the canting resulting from the pressure acting through the inlet port I2a.

As is indicated in Figure 1, the outer diameter of the operating or sleeve element I9 is sufficiently smaller than the diameter of the aperture l4a in plate I4 as to permit the above-described canting of the plug. Also, when the valve is in the closed position indicated in Figures 1 and 3, there will be sucient play between ball 3| and pocket 34 as to permit the plug to be canted or Iioat" so as to obtain a highly enicientseal against the outlet passage.

When it is desired to move the valve from closed position to open position, a wrench will be applied to the operating element or sleeve I9 so as to rotate that element in a counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 3. During initial rotation of element I9, the loose fit between the flat surfaces 20 and 2| will permit element I9 to rotate slightly with respect to the plug stem so that the surface of the groove 33 will move beneath the ball 3I. This will force the element I9 to the left, as viewed in Figure 1, and the journal i-lt between the round portion of plug stem I8 and the round bore in element I9 will cause the plug to be correspondingly tilted so as to cant it away from the outlet port. When the rotational play between the flat surfaces 20 and 2I has been taken up, the plug I9 will rotate with the stem, the plug being canted as just described. However, when movement of the plug to open position is completed, the pocket 35 will move opposite ball 3| so that the element I9 and the plug will again be free to float. Movement of the plug from open to closed position will be the reverse of the action just described.

Because of the fact that the round portion of plug stem I8 has a close fit with the round surface portion of operating element I9, the canting movement of the operating element I9 will be exactly conformed to by the plug. As has been indicated above, O-ring26 will prevent leakage between the plate I4 and the operating element I9.

Referring to Figures 5 and 6, the structure disclosed therein is identical with that of Figures 1 to 4 except that the plug I6 of Figures 5 and 6 has recesses 59 thereinl so that its closely fitting resilient covering I'I will include corresponding recesses 60. The recesses 60 have the same outline as the inlet and outlet ports 6I and 62 of flow passageway I2 and are positioned on a line extending 90 with respect to the flow port 63 of the plug.

As is shown in Figure 6, the provision ofthe recesses 60 will obviate the possibility of the resilient covering being projected into the outlet passage 62 when the plug is in closed position. Because there will be less material within the area defined by the mouth of the outlet passage 62 when the plug is in closed position, the covering cannot be forced into the outlet mouth by any canting action of the plug, such as will result from the pressure acting through the passage 5I. The principal reason for providing two recesses 60 is to enable the plug to be rotated in either direction. However, it will be understood that stops will ordinarily be provided upon the valve to limit any given installation to a rotation.

It will be apparent that the recess arrangement disclosed in Figures 5 and 6 may be used in a valve which does not include the canting arrangement of Figures 1 to 4.

The terminology used in the speciiication is for the purpose of description and not of limitation, the scope of the invention being defined in the claims.

We claim:

1. In a valve, a valve casing including a seat bore and a flow passage extending transversely of the seat bore, a ported plug rotatable in the seat bore, a pivot bearing between one end of said ported plug and the opposed surface of said valve casing, and co-acting means carried by the opposite end of the plug and the opposed surface of the valve casing to tilt the plug with respect to the seat bore duringrotation of the plug.

2. In a valve, a valve casing including a. seat bore and a flow passage extending transversely of the seat bore, a ported plug rotatable in the seat bore, a pivot bearingbetween Vone end of said ported plug and the opposed surface of said valve casing, and co-acting means carried by the opposite end of the plug and the opposed surface of the valve casing to tilt the plug with respect to the seat bore during rotation of the plug, said co-acting means acting radially of the plug and seat bore.

3. In a valve, a valve casing including a seat bore and a flow passage extending transversely of the seat bore, a ported plug rotatable in the seat bore, a pivot bearing between one end of said ported plug and the opposed surface of said valve casing, an operating stem on the other end of said plug, an aperture at one end of the seat bore through which the plug operating stern extends, and co-acting means positioned between the operating stem and the opposed surface of the aperture to tilt the plug with respect to the seat bore during rotation of the plug.

4. In a valve, a valve casing including a seat bore and a flow passage extending transversely of the seat bore, a ported plug rotatable in the seat bore, a pivot bearing between one end of said ported plug and the opposed surface of said valve casing, and co-acting means carried by the opposite end of the plug and the opposed surface of the valve casing, Said co-acting means including a. pocket and a radial projection adapted to seat in said pocket in a limit position of said plug and to tilt said plug when unseated.

5. In a valve, a valve casing including a seat bore and a flow passage extending transversely of the seat bore, a ported plug rotatable in the seat bore, a pivot bearing between one end of said ported plug and the opposed surface of said valve casing, co-acting means carried by the opposite end of the plug and the opposed surface of the valve casing, said co-acting means including pockets circumferentially spaced by a distance substantially corresponding to the arc of rotational movement of the plug .between open and closed position of the latter and a radial projection adapted to seat in the respective pockets in open and closed position of said plug and to tilt said plug when in an intermediate position.

6. In a valve, a va-lve casing including a seat bore and a flow passage extending transversely of the seat bore, a ported plug rotatable in the seat bore, a pivot bearing between one end of said ported plug and the opposed surface of said valve casing, co-acting means carried by the opposite end of the plug and the opposed surface of the valve casing, said co-acting means including a circumferentially extending groove with` pockets at the respective ends of said groove and a radial projection adapted to seat in the respective pockets in open and closed positions of the plug and to cooperate with said groove in the intermediate position of rotation of the plug to tilt the plug with respect to the seat bore.

7. In a valve, a valve casing element including a seat bore and a flow passage extending transversely of the seat bore, a ported plug element rotatable in the seat bore, a plate closing one end of the seat bore, said plate having a central aperture therein, a sleeve element rotatable in and spaced from the plate aperture, the plug being provided with an operating stem projecting into the sleeve element, the stem and the sleeve element respectively being provided withabuttingy surfaces substantially parallel to the plug element axis, said sleeve element having a circumferentially extending groove therein with a pocket at each end of the groove, a ball mounted in the surface of the plate aperture adapted to seat in the respective pockets in open and closed positions of the plug element, and a pivot bearing between the end of the plug opposite from its stern and the opposed surface of the valve body element.

8. In a valve, a valve casing element including a seat bore and a flow passage extending transversely of the seat bore, a ported plug element rotatable in the seat bore, a plate closing one end of the seat bore, said plate having a central aperture therein, a sleeve element rotatable in and spaced from the plate aperture, the plug being provided with an operating stem projecting into the sleeve element, the stem and the sleeve element respectively being provided with opposed flat surfaces substantially parallel to the plug element axis and sunciently spaced to enable the sleeve element to rotate slightly relatively to the plug stem, the plug stem also including an inner peripheral circular surface which closely contacts with a corresponding surface of n the sleeve element so that the sleeve element and plug may be canted together, said sleeve element having a circumferentially extending groove therein with a pocket at each end of the groove, a ball mounted in the surface of the plate aperture adapted to seat in the respective pockets in open and closed positions of the plug element, and a pivot bearing between the end of the plug opposite from its stem and the opposed surface of the valve body element.

9. In a valve, a valve casing including a seat bore and a flow passage extending transversely of the seat bore, a ported plug rotatable in the seat bore, a pivot bearing between one end of said ported plug and the opposed surface of said valve casing, one of the seating surfaces of the valve being resilient, and co-acting means carried by one end of the plug and the opposed surface of the valve casing to tilt the plug with respect to the seat bore during rotation of the plug.

10. In a valve, a valve casing including a seat bore and a flow passage extending transversely of the seat bore, a ported plug rotatable in the seat bore, a pivot bearing between onev end of said ported plug and the opposed surface of the said valve casing, an operating stem on said plug, said valve casing having an aperture at one end of the said bore and through which the plug operating stem extends, means rotatable with said operating stern and defining a groove extending circumferentially of the operating stem and including pockets at the respective ends of the groove, and a ball element rigidly mounted in the wall of said aperture and adapted to seat in the groove pockets when the plug is in limit positions and to cooperate with said groove in the intermediate positions whereby said ported plug is tilted with respect to said seat bore.

11. In a valve, a valve casing including a seat bore and a flow passage extending transversely of the seat bore, a ported plug rotatable in the seat bore, a pivot bearing between one end of said ported plug and the opposed surface of said Valve casing, coacting means carried by the opposite end of the plug and the Opposed surface of the valve casing to tilt the plug with respect to the seat bore during rotation of the plug, said plug being provided with a resilient seating surface which is recessed over an area which will be opposite the casing ow passage in closed position of the plug.

LUCIEN W. BEUELLER. FREDERICK TRATZK.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 967,460 Straub Aug. 16, 1910 1,611,844 Wilson Dec. 21, 1926 1,679,370 Nordstrom Aug. 7, 1928 1,814,534 Van Ettan July 14, 1931 1,989,009 Heggem Jan. 22, 1935 2,039,220 Heggem Apr. 28, 1936 2,063,699 Schelln Dec. 8, 1936 2,076,838 Heggem Apr. 13, 1937 2,076,839 Heggem Apr. 13, 1937 2,200,474 Heggem May 14, 1940 2,285,222 Mueller June 2, 1942 2,438,672. Margrave Mar. 30, 1948 2,505,270 Allen Apr. 25, 1950 

